Self-Sufficiency and Allocative Efficiency-Case of Edible Oils

Case of Edible Oils Ashok Gulati Anil Sharma Deepali S Kohli With the opening up of imports and exports of agricultural commodities, India is likely to experience increasing levels of edible oil imports. Simultaneously, its exports of cereals and cotton may increase substantially. Cropping pattern changes, which had been moving in favour of oilseeds since mid-1980s, may slow down and even reverse in favour of cereals in the coming years. Economically, the nation is going to be a net gainer through these trade policy changes. But 'self-sufficiency' in edible oils would be under threat unless the focus of policy-makers shifts from overplaying with the price instrument to its productivity augmentation.